HomeMy WebLinkAboutM. Tabacchi 1-10-11 -Deer remediation plan.pdf Date: January 10, 2011
To: The Trustees of Cayuga Heights _ t
From: Mary Tabacchi
Re: Deer Remediation Plan
By now we realize that there are few data that actually support the killing of deer in Cayuga Heights.
We have seen research from experts and various witnesses which states that:
(1) "Deer ticks' are actually carried mostly by small rodents and not necessarily deer.
(2) That the Tompkins County Health Department does not report an increase in the number of
Lyme Disease cases. Lyme Disease occurs very infrequently in Tompkins County. Reported
cases may be due to the fact that the disease is contracted outside of the county.
(3) That there are a large number of people who support a reasonable fencing plan.
(4) That as deer are killed, deer from surrounding communities will move in to replace them,
making the killing necessary each year—actually only temporarily reducing the numbers of deer
that live among us.
(5) Reducing and enforcing the speed limits could indeed reduce significantly the deer/auto
collision rate.
(6) That an actual up-to-date deer count might show that the number of deer in the village may be
decreasing due to harsh winter weather. An objective study of the deer population has not
been conducted for approximately 10 years. So far what we hear is speculation and hear-say
evidence.
(7) That deer are not aggressive unless their young are threatened or unless they themselves are
"cornered".
(8) Many residents enjoy having the deer present.
(9) Many residents do not want to experience the violence of killing.
(10)That the current board does not have a mandate to destroy these animals nor have they won
elections by a large number of votes.
(11)That indeed many people in the village of Cayuga Heights strenuously object to the killing of
these deer—but that no objective survey of the residents of the Village or the surrounding
communities has been conducted.
(12)That past failures of deer sterilization was the result of a faulty vaccine.
(13)That this issue has divided the community significantly.
So please dear trustees, consider some of the alternative suggestions to deer/human interaction.